Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1887-12-03

We're lowered; the other could not br
got adriit. / do not know whether
this was due To any fault on board.
The vessek listed over So much that all
the boats couid not be dropDed int
the water. The people rushed about in
the greatest state of excitement. all
trying to get place in the two boats
which had been successfully lowered
The scare and disorder preve nted many
persons being saved. The water was
freezing cold. rhishastened the death
of many, rendering them powerless"
Charles Mills Of Red Hill. Surrey.
SAYS the life-bOats appeared as if they
had not been used or long time. They
had TO be chopped away with axes.
called out to those on the bridge to tire
rockets. 1t was 4 long time before
they did. The greatest confusion pre-
vailed. The ship was right over on
her port side before they fired the
rockets. 1 waited until the water
touched the boilers, putting out the
4 fires.
A COwARDLY CREW.
| Then got hold of belt, hut Dutch
I sailor snatched it away. We were all
mixed together, foreigners and English
/ clinging to one another in the water. l
/ saw several drowned in this way and
/ hai the greatest difficulty to keep clear
of them. gave spar 10 4 woman t.
/ hold on to. The Dutch sailors wanted
( to save themselves and even thrust
women aside. l can swim well and l
| waited about until l got TO ths Ebro,
where a rope was thrown to me-. After
/ the collision, l went down into the
/ cabin and woke two Dutch ladies, but
they were paralyzed with terror and
would not get up. de ,pite all entreaties.
/ l heard other complaints about the con-
| duct of the Dutch sailors. The con-
/ fusion was extreme. Everybody
seemed terrOr-stricken. This may ac
count for the apparent want of dis
cipline. The frantic passengers -un-
nerved some of the crew, preventing
them from acting as bravely IS they
might have done. The captain did his
best to restore order. l believe good
! Lookout was kept. We had our lights
up"
Mr.. Apple by, one of the passengers
said: II was in my berth, as also we're
many others. when the crash came.
Immediately rushed on deck, followed
by confused crowd, upon first reach
ing the deck did not think anything
much was the matter until 1 saw that
the port bow was stove in close to the
rigging and laid open for great space.
| The passengers soon crowded the deck,
and the captain and officers shouted
| tnat all the boats be lowered. The
vessel was then settling down by the
head and the excitement was at its
worst. L had hardly time to look
around me before the vessel listed
over on her port side, throwing the
passengers and crew together on that
side of the vessel. Most of the boats
were then worthless. Two boats OF
The port side were swung about aad
| lowered, the other six were useless.
While the sailors we're endsa7orAg 20
lower the boats the passengers hinder
ed them by rushing franticaIly against
them. The crew tried to keep the
passengers back, thus losing valuable
time. When the boats were finally
! lowered there was 4 rush to go into
them. tried, too, but did not stano
| a chance. The scene on the deck was
| appalling. The passengers and crew
we're crowded together, and the shrieks
Of the women and cries of children ana
the shouts of the men we're frightful
some of the passengers were on the
| knees praying. When the SchOlten
:ark beneath our feet there was
>truggle in the icy water. Most Of Us
Iad life-belts. Sarah Gold, Robson
and kept together. We clung to each
other and drfted toward the Ebro.
finally reaching that vessel"
The second officer declares that
every precaution had been taken OF
board the Scholten. A good lookouJ
was kept and Capt Taal not only hac
the ordinary watch on the bridge al
The time of the disaster, but all the
officers who intended to remain ther,
until the vessel was fairly down the
channel. The captain was last seen
his post trying to quiet the p assengerS
and get the boats OF.
OFFICERS STORIES.
An officer of the SchOlten states that
the Rosa Mary was carrying no side
lights, but was showing the usual mast